Henry Yarbrough
Henry Yarbrough
Henry Yarbrough has served in various leadership capacities within WKU’s Mathematics Department and published several textbooks and scholarly journal articles.
He is survived by two sons, Travis Liddell and Dijon Jones; one daughter, Ymani Brue; four aunts: Mary Shelton, Arie Smith and Earnest Smith from Brooksville MS; as well as five uncles, Curtis Yarbough and John Henry Smith.
Early Life and Education
Henry Yarbrough was born in 1874 and died in 1924, leaving three children behind, one being Tryler Yarbrough who served in World War I’s military, while his other son James Yarbrough held various jobs including becoming a police officer.
He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church where she served as secretary for Lyric Theater and Family and Children’s Services departments, Women’s Society of Christian Service, Quiet Disciple Sunday School class, etc.
Evelyn Ann Yarbrough survives him along with three sons: Travis Liddell of Macon, MS; DeShawn Jones of Hattiesburg, MS and Ymani Brue of New Orleans, LA; five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Professional Career
Henry Yarbrough, commonly referred to by friends and family as Ron, Ronnie or Daddy, passed away peacefully at Towers High School on July 12, 2019 at age 64. A member of its class of 1974, Ron served in both the U.S. Army Air Corps and Special Operations Command during his military service career.
He earned his B.S. from WKU and an A.M. and Ph.D. from Indiana. Additionally, he was a member of American Mathematical Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and Mathematical Association of America.
At CUNY, he has published numerous journal articles and book chapters as well as co-teaching the Law & Society capstone course — during which students publish the COVID-19 law journal — as well as overseeing a student-led research initiative called Legal Disruption Project that investigates how the law disrupts communities and families.
Achievement and Honors
Limeliters made their mark as one of the most successful folk revival groups of their era with tight harmonies and sophisticated yet folkish arrangements that made for millions of record sales worldwide. Yarbrough stood out as an exceptional performer with his sublimely expressive lyric tenor voice.
She has received various system, state and national awards and recognition for her educational leadership and administration work in Baltimore County Public Schools; among them as the deputy superintendent.
She has received several honors, such as being honored with the Salvatori Prize at a private dinner in New York City and receiving both the Feliks Gross and Henry Wasser awards from CUNY Faculty Senate Awards which recognize assistant professors who have conducted outstanding research with $1,000 for research done and conference travel grants awarded as awards from these events.
Personal Life
Henry Yarbrough was an active member of Emmanuel M.B. Church in Macon, Mississippi, as well as an avid sports fan and fisherman who also appreciated gospel music. He leaves behind his two sons Travis Liddell and DeShawn Jones as well as daughter Ymani Brue; father John Henry Smith; three brothers Richard Yarbough Earnest Yarbrough James Smith Sr; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
He was also a long-standing member of VFW Post 4250 in Frankston and spent his retirement years participating in social and volunteer activities – particularly volunteering for Meals-on-Wheels and serving as trustee of Greater New Hope Baptist Church in Malvern. All who knew him will miss him greatly.
Net Worth
He owned a chain of Honda dealerships and founded the National Black Arts and Heritage Foundation to uphold and preserve the principles of American Founding as well as African-American history. Furthermore, he made contributions to charitable organizations.
His silken lyric tenor was heard regularly in traditional songs like “John Henry” and contemporary numbers like the folk comedy classic, “Charlie, the Midnight Marauder.” Known for his humorous onstage banter with bandmates, Mr. Yarbrough left behind two daughters from his first marriage – Stephany Yarbrough and Sean Yarbrough; stepdaughters Brooke Poole and Heather Yarbrough as well as four grandchildren and one great-grandchild from both marriages as well as four stepdaughters; four stepdaughters in Brooke Poole and Heather Yarbrough; four stepdaughters Brooke Poole; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild from Nashville resident Ms Burnett; played across oceans as cruise ships playing on cruise ships; after leaving Limeliters in 1996 he lived at sea before returning occasionally performing with reunion bands of various musicians performing reunion shows for reunion bands of performers that still existed then; occasionally returning home for performances from reunion bands before returning home and rejoining them!